We share some of the unexpected phonics lessons that students need that aren't always obvious in the curriculum guides. These important and necessary phonics lessons are essential in phonics instruction.

Two reading teachers review the terms phoneme and grapheme. They're important terms for understanding the connections between letters and sounds.

Shannon and Mary discuss a professional article, "Why Phonics Teaching Must Change" published in Educational Leadership, September 2008 by Jeannine Herron. They talk about a different approach to teaching students to read. What if we focus more on encoding activities rather than starting with decoding activities?

Two reading teachers talk about pre-reading skills and other school readiness skills students need before going to Kindergarten. They also discuss preschool literacy and give resources for preschool literacy activities and curriculum.

What are executive functioning skills? In this episode, we will tell you what executive functioning is and what executive functioning activities are best for your students!

Today we are talking about authentic writing strategies. We discuss writing instructions for kids and reading instructions for kids as they go hand and hand. We hope you tune in!

In this episode, two reading teachers discuss mindfulness activities for kids in the classroom. Teaching metacognition activities and metacognition strategies in the classroom is so important and that is why we are talking about it in this episode.

In today's episode, two reading teachers discuss consonants! We discuss all things consonants including consonant blends, fun consonant activities, and more! Tune in to listen to the reading teachers lounge podcast!

Two reading teachers discuss phonemic awareness strategies with one another. Mary and Shannon give you great phonics-based activity ideas, phonemic awareness lessons, and more! Join the conversation!

We believe that learning to read is rigorous and teachers must continue to teach students where they are while developing the lofty learning goals.

Two reading teachers talk about struggling readers in kindergarten, first, second, and third grade and the best coping mechanisms for struggling elementary readers.

Today in the reading teachers' lounge, we discuss dyslexic tendencies, dyslexia-friendly classroom activities, and more concerning the ins and outs of dyslexia. Join us on our journey to deepen your understanding of dyslexia.

Shannon and Mary share a multitude of ways to increase practice for your students as they learn sight words.

Ok, we have the basics of long and short vowels and consonants, but now, let's throw in the 'bossy r' and teach you to teach them to crack the code!

Two reading teachers chat about the best methods for teaching short vowel sounds and teaching short vowel spelling patterns. They share their favorite free resources of short vowel activities. Each teacher explains why short vowel sounds are tricky for struggling readers and how to best provide instruction and intervention.

In this episode of the reading teachers lounge two reading teachers discuss different types of learning disabilities and activities to accommodate such learning struggles.

Two experienced reading specialists share practical assessment tools they use to measure their students' decoding skills

Two reading teachers discuss the how and most importantly the why behind becoming teachers. As the season progresses you will learn more about teaching phonics, sight words, vowels, and more!

Let's talk about decoding MAP results. Two reading teachers are here to talk about what do MAP scores even mean, the algorithm for decoding MAP, and the resources you need to understand.